As usual, I had joined the check-in queue behind someone with a problem. The passenger in front of mw a large lady from India, was arguing with the ticket agent.
“It would be more convenient for me to go today.”
“But your ticket is for tomorrow.” The agent replied with typical Swiss directness.
“Yes. I bought ticket for that day because it was cheaper. But it would be much more convenient if I went today.”
“Your ticket is for tomorrow.”
“I want to go today,” The (prospective) passenger replied, attempting to lift a Volkswagen-sized suitcase.
“Your ticket is for tomorrow, not today.”
“Tomorrow is not opportune.” The passenger turned to me. “Can you help with this luggage?”
“Don’t do that!” The agent glared at me. “We cannot take your luggage unless you are traveling.”
“Exactly.” The passenger replied. “It is much better for me if I travel today.”
“Your ticket is for tomorrow.”
“I want to go today.”
“You have to go to the service desk to change your ticket.”
“I do not want to change my ticket. I just want to go today.”
“You have to go to the service desk. It’s …”
“If I leave this queue, I’ll miss my flight.”
“You won’t miss your flight. Your flight is tomorrow.”
“I want to go…”
“Then go! Go to the ticket counter.”
“No wonder your customer satisfaction rankings are so low.” The passenger looked at me. “Watch my luggage – and be careful of this agent. She is very rude.”
Finally checked in, I walked to passport control and joined the queue behind a bohemian student with purple hair.
Standing next to a giant sign (“Have passport and boarding pass ready.”) the student was discussing the situation with the immigration agent.
“You want to see my passport?” She said, as she searched a plastic bag. “And, my boarding pass? What is a boarding pass?”
Predictably, the student was on my flight. Queued to enter the airplane, I saw her searching the plastic bag. “But I already showed the boarding pass to someone. Why do you want to see it too?”
When we entered the airplane, the confusion continued. The student, who had walked past her seat, was struggling against the flow to get back to row 16.
“No problem,” I replied, sliding out of the way, “They should have told you that the rows were numbered sequentially.”
“That is so clever.”
I settled into place. Although it was in the last row, it had the advantage of having an empty seat next to it. Just before the door closed, the Indian woman boarded. She marched to my row and sat down in the ‘empty’ seat.
“You didn’t watch my luggage.” The lady exclaimed.
“It would be more convenient for me to go today.”
“But your ticket is for tomorrow.” The agent replied with typical Swiss directness.
“Yes. I bought ticket for that day because it was cheaper. But it would be much more convenient if I went today.”
“Your ticket is for tomorrow.”
“I want to go today,” The (prospective) passenger replied, attempting to lift a Volkswagen-sized suitcase.
“Your ticket is for tomorrow, not today.”
“Tomorrow is not opportune.” The passenger turned to me. “Can you help with this luggage?”
“Don’t do that!” The agent glared at me. “We cannot take your luggage unless you are traveling.”
“Exactly.” The passenger replied. “It is much better for me if I travel today.”
“Your ticket is for tomorrow.”
“I want to go today.”
“You have to go to the service desk to change your ticket.”
“I do not want to change my ticket. I just want to go today.”
“You have to go to the service desk. It’s …”
“If I leave this queue, I’ll miss my flight.”
“You won’t miss your flight. Your flight is tomorrow.”
“I want to go…”
“Then go! Go to the ticket counter.”
“No wonder your customer satisfaction rankings are so low.” The passenger looked at me. “Watch my luggage – and be careful of this agent. She is very rude.”
Finally checked in, I walked to passport control and joined the queue behind a bohemian student with purple hair.
Standing next to a giant sign (“Have passport and boarding pass ready.”) the student was discussing the situation with the immigration agent.
“You want to see my passport?” She said, as she searched a plastic bag. “And, my boarding pass? What is a boarding pass?”
Predictably, the student was on my flight. Queued to enter the airplane, I saw her searching the plastic bag. “But I already showed the boarding pass to someone. Why do you want to see it too?”
When we entered the airplane, the confusion continued. The student, who had walked past her seat, was struggling against the flow to get back to row 16.
“No problem,” I replied, sliding out of the way, “They should have told you that the rows were numbered sequentially.”
“That is so clever.”
I settled into place. Although it was in the last row, it had the advantage of having an empty seat next to it. Just before the door closed, the Indian woman boarded. She marched to my row and sat down in the ‘empty’ seat.
“You didn’t watch my luggage.” The lady exclaimed.
P.S. I always wear a polka dot bowtie when travelling
1 comment:
usually people with purple hair are more savvy than that!!! she was obviously missing her fair share of polka dots, which I hear increase brain function. hooray for the the weekly letter blog.
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